April 16, 2009
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

USA South Golf Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for golf.  A total of 20 student-athletes have been named to the teams. Methodist University's Josh Schrader was chosen as the Golfer of the Year and his coach, Steve Conley, was named Coach of the Year while Greensboro College's Ben Nihart earned Rookie Golfer of the Year honors. Also, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school. All honors are determined by votes from the golf coach at each institution.

Schrader, a junior from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania averaged a USA South-best score of 73.0 in 12 rounds of play. He  recorded four top-10 finishes, two top-five finishes and two tournament wins. For his efforts, Schrader earned his second consecutive First Team All-Conference honor. Finally, Schrader garnered USA South Golfer of the Week accolades once this season.

A freshman from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Nihart posted a 75.9 stroke average in 14 rounds this season. Nihart finished in the top-ten in one tournament and shot par or better during three rounds. For his efforts, Nihart also earned Second Team All-Conference honors and was named USA South Rookie Golfer of the Week four times this season.

Conley is in his 22nd year at the helm of Methodist and earns USA South Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive season and the 16th time in his career. He has guided his team to a conference best 293.5 stroke average in 14 rounds this season. The Monarchs placed second or better in five events, winning two of them, this season.

Player of the Year
Josh Schrader - Methodist

Rookie of the Year
Ben Nihart - Greensboro

Coach of the Year
Steve Conley - Methodist

The 2009 USA South Golf All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team Tom Cooper - Methodist Josh Cumming - Greensboro Brad Hartman - Averett Jake Pleczkowski - Methodist Josh Schrader - Methodist	Second Team Matt Bova - Methodist Brock Elder - Greensboro Trey Howell - Methodist Connor Kennedy - Greensboro Ben Nihart - Greensboro
Honorable Mention Taylor Chamberlin - Shenandoah Nathan Daly - Averett Joseph Evans - Christopher Newport Chris Olson - Christopher Newport Josh Wiegand - Shenandoah	All-Sportsmanship Team Dave Hess - Averett Chris Olson - Christopher Newport Ryan Throckmartin - Ferrum Joshua Hudgins - Greensboro Jake Pleczkowski - Methodist Luke Oakley - N.C. Wesleyan Aaron DeHaven - Shenandoah